Late-season turnaround propels Lakers to winning record

LOS ANGELES(AP) — Near the end of what he once referred to as the mostimportant regular-season stretch of his career, LeBron James wasable to briefly savor one thing many thought was going to be nearimpossible after 12 games.

The LosAngeles Lakers will have a winning record in the regularseason.

TheLakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 121-107on Fridaynight for their 42nd win to guarantee a finish over .500. That wasonly a dream in early November when Los Angeles stumbled out of thegates with a 2-10 record.

“I was justtelling AD (Anthony Davis), ‘Can you believe we’re going to finishthis season above .500 after everything that has gone on thisseason?’ We turned this thing around in the regular season,” Jamessaid. “There’s more basketball to be played, but to know that we’regoing to finish a few games above .500 is pretty cool.”

According toSportradar, the Lakers (42-39) are only the fourth team since 1981to start 2-10 or worse and finish with a winning record. The NewJersey Nets did it twice (1981-82, 2004-05) while the Chicago Bullsbeat the odds in 2004-05.

Los Angeleswas able to accomplish its turnaround despite James and Davis beingin the same lineup for only 35 games.

James missed27 games, including a four-week stretch from late February to lateMarch because of right foot soreness.

Davis was outfor 26 games, mostly because of a right foot stress injury. He hasmissed only two games, though, since Feb. 1.

The Lakershave won five of their last seven sinceJames returned to thelineupon March 26. They didn’t get over .500 until a12-pointwin at Minnesotaon March 31, the 77th game ofthe season.

“We areplaying extremely well. The guys did an unbelievable job when I wasout. The games that I played (since returning), I just try to do mypart,” James said.

The biggestcatalyst to the turnaround was the trade deadline, when the Lakersreset their roster. They acquired guards D’Angelo Russell and MalikBeasley, forward Jarred Vanderbilt and center Mo Bamba, along withtrading Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers’17-9 record since the Feb. 9 trade deadline is the second-best markin the Western Conference.

“It’s been areal good group. There’s a lot at stake and on the line that wehave no choice but to improve,” Davis said. “Our practice has beengames and we’ve been able to figure out things on the fly.”

Russell ledthe Lakers with 24 points and Beasley scored 21 in the win over theSuns. Austin Reaves also has emerged as an integral player,averaging 17.8 points since the All-Star break.

The Lakers’main goal going into Sunday’s regular-season finale against theUtah Jazz is trying to get into the top six and avoid the play-intournament. They are seventh in the West and need help.

Going intothe final day, the Lakers could finish as high as fifth or as lowas ninth.

Coach DarvinHam’s main priority is trying to make sure his team gets some restduring what has been a late-season grind. Sunday’s game will betheir fourth in six days, with the possibility of a play-in game onTuesday or Wednesday.

“We have todo what we need to do to make sure we have the proper energy, theproper rest, care, making sure we’re taking care of our guys andtheir physical issues,” Ham said. “I just think the stakes beingwhat they are is really going to ramp up our guys.”

Even with theoff day, James was in Portland on Saturday watching his son,Bronny, take part in the Nike Hoops Summit. James smiled when askedabout taking the trip and said something that sums up the lastmonth:

“There’s norest for the weary, you know?”